SmallBall Sports Forums Archives

[Rowdy Rooster]

Ever notice how you lose a lot of games, that you initiate, in the bottom of the 9th inning? I just thought I'd throw out a small bit of philosophy that you can choose to bite on or spit out.

(Scenario)
You've made the challenge. You're pumped. You have made it through 8 innings defensively, and 9 offensively. It's the bottom of the 9th and of course you're the away team, so you are not up to bat. Mind you, you're winning by 1 or 2 runs, maybe 3.
The Home team (your opponent) comes to bat and generally ends up rallying and WHACK! That deadly homerun with 1 to 2 men on base. More often it's a 3 run homer but regardless you just lost by a walk off homer. You think to yourself, My pitcher ("Oh God, he's done it again!")
Now before we get all pesimistic about our pitcher, he's pitched 8 and in many of my cases it's been a solid 8 2/3 innings. So you search for where you're going to place the blame but for some reason the finger you're pointing should be directed at the mirror.

Now the reverse of side it is, your the home team and you've been challenged. Kick Azz. . It's been great because I have been on the receiving end during either a review of the live game or a replay where; "Oh yes, that was a great homer! Sweeeeet! Guess what? Guess what? I just cracked a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th!!!"

Point is, it rarely happens when you've initiated the game and it's the top of the 9th. And your losing! 1,2,3 and down go your hitters. GAME OVER!

Sometimes it's brutal because you really don't want to lose games but Hey this is smallball! Anybody can beat anybody (within reason). It seems like there's a slight edge to home field IMO, that is a whole post in itself.

That's why honor rating can be so difficult to achieve. You don't gain it in the PL's and you don't gain it unless you initiate the games in the BL, I think this is a correct statement if I'm not mistaken, and of course there are circumstances of ways to win games and lose rating. But you don't want to keep losing in the dreaded bottom of the 9th.
Am I willing to sacrifice wins and expose my team in the BL's just to get honor rating? Or pat myself on the back for excellence in scouting out the wins and waiting for people to challenge me (where the bottom of the 9th is my friend but I still only maintain honor rating)?
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"A true risk taker is one who invests in SmallBall."

[redbirds33]

I just challenged the Automatics, so if you want to see a live home game, check out game #17379

EDIT: I lost. The game wasn't even close. My team is only 8* at the moment. Your guys must be a high 9*.

[jagriff3]

This happens to me all the time as well. Just it is usually in the 11 or 12 inning.
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[alex_rich]

i never get the extra innings, my game is normally over by the 7th
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[jagriff3]

LOL
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[alex_rich]

Its that damm Mercy Rule, i am losing by 30 i want to continue

i could fight back. it is not like i have i option to forfeit. it is my Go given right continue.

And as i cant i feel Violated
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[strikemasterflex]

The best games in my opinion are PL1,2, or 3 extra inning games, if you lose there is actually something on the line, unlike a big league game.
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